General Information

Booking
Upon written request via email or fax and subject to availability, we will provisionally book your place on the chosen tour. No deposits are required. Space is allocated and held BUT if definite suites are required by another client, the holding agent/guest will be asked to confirm with a deposit payment (see below) or release the suite. Upon receipt of a written confirmation via email or fax and a completed Reservation Form, final confirmation details and an invoice will be sent to you. Upon receipt of the relevant payment, your booking on the chosen tour will be confirmed. See download below for Payment Schedule Allocations and Cancellations.

Cancellation Insurance
Cancellation insurance is compulsory and will not be waived. We offer insurance to South African residents. For international guests we suggest you contact your local travel agent for assistance. Please bring a copy of your travel insurance policy stating clearly the company, policy number and 24-hour medical emergency telephone number.

Scheduling Times & Routes and Excursions
We cannot be held liable for any delays due to trains not running to schedule. Excursions cannot be guaranteed and will only be undertaken if time and circumstances permit. Departure and arrival times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. We reserve the right to alter our routing any time between departure and arrival points.

Maximum Train Capacity for Hunting Safari Charter
23 suites. We reserve the right to increase or decrease this capacity as circumstances may require.

Rate Includes
Accommodation, three meals daily, all alcoholic and other beverages, 24-hour room service and bar facilities, excursions with a qualified tour guide, entrance fees to places of interest, shoots, licences, field assistants, ammunition, government tax and limited laundry services.

Rate Excludes
Flights and airport taxes, passport/visa charges, travel and personal insurance, guns, permits, shootings, taxidermy, telephone calls, memorabilia purchases, spa treatments, staff gratuities.

Prices
We will do our utmost to keep to the prices published. However, if increases are forced on us we reserve the right, prior to confirmation, to amend the tour price.

Passports & Visas
The onus is upon the client to ensure that passports and visas, as may be required, are valid. Please check with the relevant consulates in good time regarding applications or enquire with us at Rovos Rail. Visitors to South Africa are required to have at least three blank VISA pages in their passports to receive an entry visa. Passports must be valid for at least six months from the guests’ return-home date.

Health
– Please ensure you have filled out the Reservation Form to indicate if you have any medical conditions, physical disabilities or allergies. There is a basic First Aid Kit on board.
–  Anti-malarial precautions are advised if visiting Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kruger Park and Swaziland.
– A Yellow Fever/Medical Exemption Certificate is essential if travelling to/from Zambia & Tanzania. Although all countries travelled through don’t require this, countries guests return to after the trip often require them.
– Please consult your clinic or doctor. TRAVEL DOCTOR AFRICA local 0861 300 911 or international +27 11 214 9030.

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Cuisine on the Train
Meals are served in one sitting only in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining cars and are complemented by a selection of fine South African wines. Breakfast is between 07h00 and 10h00, lunch at 13h00 and a formal dinner at 19h30. All meals are served at these times unless otherwise stated in the timetable. A gong heralds lunch and dinner. Tea is usually served at 16h30 in the midway Lounge Car or Observation Car at the rear of the train.

Dietary Requirements
We will do our best to cater for dietary requirements provided a detailed request has been made on the Reservation Form. If a special request has not been made, the chefs will endeavour to prepare suitable meals with the ingredients available on board. We regret we are unable to provide meals requiring strict religious observance in the preparation.

Smoking
On board the train, smoking is allowed in the Club Lounge only. Please note on the Reservation Form provided if you are smoking or non-smoking so that the appropriate room might be requested at the hotels. Smoking is allowed in the privacy of your suite, but please be mindful that the train is generally made up of wood; please don’t throw flammable items such as cigarette or cigar butts off the train as bush fires in Africa are a constant and dangerous hazard.

Laundry
There is a limited laundry service on board comprising household washers, dryers and steam irons. The turnaround is 48 hours so we are not able to handle a week’s worth of washing. Please note that while we are providing a complimentary service we cannot be held responsible for items that may be damaged or lost in the process. There are no dry-cleaning facilities en route or on board the train.

Luggage
Each suite has a luggage rack that runs its length providing ample space for storage.

Gift Shop
There is a small gift shop on the train and at Rovos Rail Station. Due to the varying exchange rates, credit cards are preferred. The host/ess on duty has a basic First Aid Kit and personal essentials (toothbrushes, razors, earplugs etc.). He/she will also fulfil any administrative requirements and check your onward arrangements. Stamps are available for sale and postcards may be posted in the post box at the entrance to the Observation Car or at Rovos Rail Station.

Special Occasions
We would like to celebrate your special occasion with you. Upon boarding the train, please advise the Train Manager.

Books, Magazines and Games
There are board games, playing cards, a card table (dependent), books and magazines available for your use in the Lounge and Observation Cars whilst on board the train.

Electrical Current and Adaptors
220V AC 50Hz 3-point round-pronged wall plugs, 110V/220V 2-pin plugs for shavers. International adaptors available.

Safes
An electronic safe is provided in the cupboard in each suite.

Telephone
There is an internal telephone system on board. Numbers are listed on the provided Guest List.

Temperature
All public cars are fitted with gas-filled air-conditioning systems. Each suite has an individual air-conditioner with individual temperature controls that can also be set to heat mode. Fresh-air intake is solved by opening a window. Windows should be closed while operating the air-conditioning unit. Electric under-blankets are fitted on the bed.